Brian Kelley Shares the Inspiration Behind His New Song, ‘Kiss My Boots’

Hot on the heels of dropping his brand new song, ‘Kiss My Boots’, today (Wednesday, March 6), Brian Kelley sat down with Holler to discuss his latest release, which will appear on his eagerly anticipated sophomore album, Tennessee Truth.

‘Kiss My Boots’ carries a sting in the tail and an edge that BK has so far steered clear of with his easygoing, laid-back brand of country, undoubtedly showcasing a different side to the former member of Diamond-selling duo, Florida Georgia Line.

Ahead of its release, BK touched on the personal nature of ‘Kiss My Boots’, which finds the Floridian singer-songwriter ‘airin’ out the past’ and offering a fierce rebuttal of someone who has been “throwing dirt on my name round this town like it ain't small / Like your friends ain't my friends, and I wouldn't end up hearing it all”.

Speaking to Holler, Brian Kelley expanded on the inspiration behind his stormy new anthem, which fans have speculated is about his FGL partner, Tyler Hubbard, due to the reported tensions that surrounded their surprise split back in 2022, “You know, this is a really personal song, it was born from a deep wound and a relationship. It's a song about betrayal, and I just took a deep dive and put it all out there in a song, just like so many other artists have done over the years”.

He name-checked other creatives that haven't shied away from opening up about their personal struggles, with Brian Kelley celebrating the artistry of Taylor Swift and Hank Williams Jr. The ‘See You Next Summer’ hitmaker underlined how he continuously seeks to be as honest as possible with his fans, “I've always done that in my life. Music has always been an outlet, songwriting has always helped me heal through the highs and the lows of life, and this is no different”.

In his conclusion, Brian Kelley referenced his new album, Tenessee Truth, which is set to arrive on May 10, and will also feature previously released fan-favourites, ‘Dirt Cheap’, ‘How We've Livin’, ‘Trucks, Ducks, Bucks & Beer’ and ‘See You Next Summer’.

BK emphasised, “I really hope that people can find their own ‘Tennessee Truth’ in this song. What I love about [‘Kiss My Boots’] is I know what it means to me, and I think it has a universal message that people can relate to. A lot of people have been betrayed, and so I hope that this song helps them as much as it has helped me”.

Tyler Hubbard responded to ‘Kiss My Boots’ in a Holler interview last week, and after Brian Kelley included a subtle reference to Tyler's home-state of Georgia through the symbol of a Georgia peach in the new music video for ‘Kiss My Boots’, it remains to be seen whether Tyler will have more to say on the matter in the coming weeks.

Either way, fans will be hoping ‘Kiss My Boots’ has a positive knock-on effect, rather than an inflammatory one, with listeners able to find solace and empathy in the lyrics concerning betrayal and a loss of trust, instead of focussing on their intended target.

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